With yesterday’s report of two major Apple executives leaving the company, sources have been claiming that Scott Forstall, the head of iOS, was fired due to having not apologized for the poor iOS Maps app.
Since Apple released its Maps app in iOS 6, Forstall has taken significant heat from consumers about the quality of the app. The public uproar against Maps was so great that it forced Tim Cook to issue a formal apology to customers where he said, “At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers. With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. “
Sources have apparently now told the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times that Forstall’s recent departure is largely because he refused to sign his name on this same apology. Reports say that Forstall thought complaints about the Maps app were exaggerated and that no apology was required.
Scott Forstall has been known to have had some disagreements with other executives in the past, so this action may have just been the final straw from a long list of previous infractions. This along with the numerous complaints about the quality of two major recent iOS additions, Siri and Maps, was likely enough to have Forstall removed.
Apple has said that it will be dividing Forstall’s duties amongst other executives. Eddy Cue, the Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services, will take over development of Siri and Maps.
